Make time to read the Bible, Tagle urges parents
“Kung nakatutok kayo ng dalawang oras sa panonood ng teleserye, pwede kaya isang oras na lang para magbasa ng Bible?
Magbigay oras para sa sarili nating paglago para magabayan natin ang mga bata (If you can watch a drama series for two hours, how about reading the Bible just for one hour? Allot some time to read the Bible for self-growth so that you can effectively guide your children),” Tagle said in his homily during the mass baptism of 470 children from the slums of Manila, Navotas, and Malabon at the Manila Cathedral. (Pexels Photo)
MANILA — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Saturday urged parents to spare an hour of their time to read the Bible as a way of enriching their spiritual lives.
“Kung nakatutok kayo ng dalawang oras sa panonood ng teleserye, pwede kaya isang oras na lang para magbasa ng Bible? Magbigay oras para sa sarili nating paglago para magabayan natin ang mga bata (If you can watch a drama series for two hours, how about reading the Bible just for one hour? Allot some time to read the Bible for self-growth so that you can effectively guide your children),” Tagle said in his homily during the mass baptism of 470 children from the slums of Manila, Navotas, and Malabon at the Manila Cathedral.
The head of the Archdiocese of Manila also called on parents not to push their children into doing things that would lead them astray.
“Sasabihin ko ho, masakit sa kalooban, nangyayari ngayon sa Pilipinas na maraming magulang ang nagtutulak sa kanilang mga anak na gumawa ng hindi mabuti at ilegal na mga bagay. Hindi dapat nagiging daan ng kapahamakan ng mga bata ang sariling mga magulang (I will say this even if I feel bad about it. What happens now in the Philippines is that many parents are pushing their children to do things that are illegal. Parents should not be the reason why their children turn bad),” he said.
Tagle also reminded parents that children are a gift from God, who must be protected and loved.
“Sa binyag ng inyong anak, kasama ang tungkulin na tayo rin maging mabuting tagasunod ni Hesus para maging mabuting katiwala ng mga bata na ipinagkatiwala sa atin ng Diyos (With baptism comes with the responsibility for parents to become good followers of Jesus so that they would become good stewards of the children entrusted to us by God),” he said.
Tagle, together with several priests, including Rev. Fr. Matthieu Dauchez, executive director of Tulay ng Kabataan (TNK) Foundation, Inc., baptized more than 450 children aged from a few months old up to 17 years old, who were TNK beneficiaries.
Ahead of the holiday season, Tagle noted that the role of godparents is not about giving money and gifts.
“Many godparents, based on our customs, think that their role is to give gifts during birthdays or Christmas. This is why many of them hide during the holiday season. Becoming a godparent is a blessing and is not an expense,” he said.
Tagle said godparents are partners of the biological parents in making sure that the children grow up as good Christians.
The TNK has helped more than 55,000 street children over the past 21 years.
